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I think I have found my comparison stone for banded agate. It is 12.2oz , 5" widest point, 1 1/2 " Height at center:

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I almost fell over when I googled Banded Agate and a picture popped up that had almost the same characteristics as this one. I have my fingers crossed that I am right. It will make sorting a great deal easier. From this piece, I can use my books to start to identify (or at least guess more accurately) the contents of intimidating boxes.

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Michigan. I remember this piece because it is one of the three sisters that I learned to polish stones on, but I will have to call my brother for the city- he drove. I believe I have 3 or 4 from Minnesota, - and a few from Vt. ,we have a home in Barre. I will call my brother tonight to see if he remembers.

It occurred to me that we followed a glacier map We picked up quite a few, good size, rough along the way. The Stone I posted is from Mn, in St. Cloud.
What we called the 3 sisters- They were rough, uncut, approximately the same large size with very close coloring- about 1 1/2 lb each were also found in St Cloud. As the volcanoes erupted the glaciers slid leaving agate behind.( I just came upon the reason there were agates in central MN today- which triggered memories and when I spoke with my brother he reminded me that I have banded agates form all over- Arizona, Italy etc. My favorite has always been the blue and the red. I some rough that may or may not be agate. It is hard to tell if it is Jasper or chert instead. I am working on a piece that possibly be Scilified Stromatoporoid or just good old banded chert- yep.

That's the very best my brother and I can remember, it has been quite a few years since those zany trips.
Following is the list we can remember:

UP:

Calmut- There is a park there, sorry I don'r remember what it was.
Esprey Park - Shore

Eagle River has beautiful stones all the way down to Eagle Harbor- Shore
Houghton- Good place to stay - has some stones, but is central to a few good areas for banded Agate
Gratiot River Beach

MN:
Central Mn is where we hunted, we found quite a few really nice, fair sized banded in:

Holdingford- field.
Cayuna Lake

My aunt was in the granite business, therefore we were allowed in several Quarries and mines that are off limit to the public.
Farm land is a excellent source, most landowners will allow you to hunt around IF you don't smoke, drink anything but water in a bottle that he has marked and you must turn in on your way out and you can have no more then 15 rocks a piece IF you leave the rest of the land the way you found it and haven't dug 30 holes in the ground and not pushed the dirt back in.